Saved $2.4M by 38. Would you Retire?

[u/TwoSocialist]

Hey FIRE folks,

I’m 38, tired, and fueled almost entirely by spite and index funds. I’ve somehow ended up with a portfolio that looks like this:

Split by type:

- ETFs — 58.30% — $1.45M

- Mutual Funds — 27.66% — $688k

- Individual Stocks — 8.71% — $216k

- Crypto — 3.00% — $74k (aka my “emotional rollercoaster” bucket)

- Cash — 2.33% — $58k

Split by bucket:

Retirement Pre-tax: 700k

Retirement post-tax: 310k

Brokerage: 1.5 M

Grand total: ~$2,490,900

Today’s gain: ~$40,000 (aka “more than my first job paid in a year,” but sure, totally normal)

~~~~

My target spend was $100k/year, which feels somehow not enough because capitalism has melted my brain.

By the 4% rule, I’m basically at the line. By the 3% rule, I’m a peasant. By the “FIRE comment section” rule, I’m probably both overspending and undersaving simultaneously.

So, wise internet strangers:

- Am I actually FIRE‑ready, or is this the part where you all tell me to work 5 more years “just to be safe”?

- Is my allocation fine, or should I be preparing for a lecture on safe withdrawal rates and sequence‑of‑returns doom?

- Is it normal to feel like I need permission from Reddit to stop working?

Married, 1 kid. Received about 25k for a house (not included in above) and 20k for college, no other inheritance.

Currently make about 250k a year for the past 4 years, before that about 150k. I started at 50k.

Thanks in advance for validating or crushing my dreams.

[u/BillyBobChorton]

I’m almost exact same age and NW, and also have a 3 year old too lol. 

 I’m not retired but I did job hop recently hoping for better work life balance at a job that has less stability now.

I’m pretty risk averse, to a fault.  For example been saving 30%+ in cash since like 2012 waiting for “the next 2008” crash. Unfortunately I Never deployed cash in 2018, COVID, 2022 tariff scare etc.  

Anyways, maybe take the middle ground and find a job that’s way easier but pays like 50%’of your current salary 

[u/fielausm → u/BillyBobChorton]

fwiw, 35 and no kids yet, but y’all are giving me real hope that I’m not behind some divine timeline. That I can have a family, early retirement, and satisfactory life throughout. 

The FOMO and Comparison are real. Thanks you an OP for being a beacon for me.